Padres Set Up Well for 2016 Draft

The Padres are looking to upgrade a farm system that was depleted last year as the Padres made an all out effort to win the World Series. With that goal ending up as a failure for 2015, General Manager A.J. Preller has been reloading by making some trades this off-season and now has favorable draft position this year as noted by Corey Brock.

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With Justin Upton and Ian Kennedy rejecting the Padres qualifying offer and signing with other teams, the Padres gain an extra couple of picks in the first round. They will now have 6 of the top 85 draft picks this June.

Padres scouting director Mark Conner is excited about what this could mean for the Padres future:

“Until it happens, you’re waiting and waiting, and a little bit uncertain if it will fall that way, but as soon as those deals become official … you start thinking it’s going to be an exciting year for the scouting department. It’s always fun to have extra picks.”

While this year’s draft doesn’t look too extraordinary and there is no clear cut top pick like a Bryce Harper or Stephen Strasburg, when it comes to prospects you just never know.

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The Padres historically have not had a great draft history. Since 2000, only two Padres players drafted by the team made the majors with the Padres and had a WAR over 10.0. Chase Headley and Will Venable, both of whom left the Padres over the past couple of years.

This draft wisdom of course is part of what got A.J. Preller the GM job and the Padres are counting on him and his team to help turn the tide. Look no further than the World Champion Royals to see what excellent scouting and homegrown talent can do for a team. The Nationals with MVP Bryce Harper and SDSU graduate Stephen Strasburg as well drafted well with a strong nucleus to take their team to the next level. If drafts are a lottery, the Padres have a good shot this season at winning big.